Faculty/Staff Biographies 2015 - 2016

Marguerite M. Armistead, English Department—

Mrs. Armistead joined Home Run Ministries in 2013. She earned her B.A. in English with a Double-Minor in Environmental Science and then her Master’s degree in English from Auburn University. She has taught English, Freshman Composition, and Rhetoric in various schools at the college level for over ten years; and in the Christian college-preparatory setting, she has taught 5th, 8th, and 12th grade students and served as a librarian. For four years, Mrs. Armistead served as a school coordinator for ACSI’s Speech Meet.

Annette Canales, Spanish Teacher—

Mrs. Canales, who earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University, joined the HRM faculty in 2014. Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, she was taught Spanish as her primary language and learned English at elementary school. Upon graduating from college, Mrs. Canales taught English as a second language. She worked full time as a probation officer and fraud investigator earning additional income as a bilingual employee. In 2012, she began homeschooling her two children.

Kathy Carman, English Department Chair—

Mrs. Carman attended Moody Bible Institute to study Christian Education, Music, and vocal performance, and she received her B.S. in Education from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. Kathy has taught homeschooled middle and high school students for 16 years. She homeschools her 2 sons, as well. Her passions are designing curriculum, editing, and writing.

Amy Cline, Science Department Chair—

Mrs. Cline has worked with students at Home Run Ministries since 1997, teaching Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and General Science. She received her Bachelor of Science and teaching degree from Texas A & M University and her Master of Education degree from Lamar University, and has enjoyed being a science educator in both public and homeschool settings.

Lisa Cunningham, Math Department--

Lisa Cunningham joined Home Run in 2012. Lisa graduated from Rice University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in German, having also spent one year at the Üniversität Salzburg in Austria. She has served as a Children’s Leader in Bible Study Fellowship. While raising her 4 daughters, she tutored high school math for over twenty years. She then taught math in public and private schools. She is certified through Texas and ACSI to teach math, physics and German.

Fayee Czarnik, History Department Chair--

Mrs. Czarnik joined Home Run Ministries in 2012, teaching Middle School History, Latin I, and Texas History. She received her Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M and her Master of Social Work from The University of Houston. She is a Texas Certified Teacher in English Language Arts and Social Studies grades 4-8. Having previously taught seven years in another private setting, Mrs. Czarnik continues to share her passion for the study of language and Roman culture.

Charles Ellis, Science Department—

Mr. Ellis is new this year to Home Run Ministries. He is a graduate of Howard Payne University with degrees in Biology and Botany. He has also done extensive Master’s degree work at Stephen F. Austin University where he also taught science labs. He is certified to teach in the state of Texas and has taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, General Science and Life Science in grades 6 -12. He also taught Science classes for GED students at night for 7 years. More recently, he has worked for Alcoa and then Exxon Mobile as a Laboratory Analyst where he was responsible for quality control testing and instrument method development and maintenance.

Heather Farrell, Financial Director and Explorations-

While Heather Farrell has served as Financial Dean of Home Run Ministries since 2006, she has also served the homeschool community by teaching grammar and writing in several coop situations. She has a Bachelors of Science in Finance from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Business from the College of William and Mary.

Karen Griswold, Academic Dean--

Mrs. Griswold holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Mathematics from Houston Baptist University. She taught first grade in public schools, both coordinated as well as taught in her church nursery for over twenty years, has been a VBS teacher and director, an AWANA leader and director, and the sponsor of both CHATA (a homeschool service organization) and the Epsilon chapter of Eta Sigma Alpha National Homeschool Honor Society. She homeschooled her three children through high school. She became the Academic Dean of Home Run Ministries in the fall of 2015. Ann Jackson, English Department--

Ann Jackson joined the Home Run Ministries faculty in the fall of 2015 teaching English 3-4. Having earned a B.S. in Secondary Education (major in English, minor in journalism) and an M.Ed. in Supervision/Administration from Louisiana State University, she taught all levels of English in Louisiana and in Crosby, TX, where she also served as Department Chair and English Vertical Team Leader. For over 20 years, she has presented College Board teacher training workshops in Pre-AP and AP (Advanced Placement) throughout the United States.

Catherine Keegan, Explorations –

Catherine Keegan is excited to be teaching an Explorations Class, Exploring Science, for 4th -6th grade students through Home Run Ministries of Kingwood. She has been a follower of Jesus Christ since she first came to know Him personally at the age of 31. He is the reason she and her husband have been married for 48 1/2 years. He is also the reason she returned to college at the age of 38 after dropping out during her Junior year when she got married at the age of 20. As the mother of two, she was quite content to be a stay-at-home Mom. However, God was doing a work in her that she could not deny and she ultimately surrendered her will to His. She returned as an undergraduate student to eventually graduate with a B.A. and went on to earn a M.S. in Guidance and Counseling. She was a school counselor for elementary, middle and high school levels over a period of 13 years to include public and private schools. During that time she designed and taught guidance classes to students in grades Pre- K through 12th Grade. She then became a school principal and served in four different Christian schools until her retirement four years ago. She has also taught Pre-Algebra and has been a mentor and tutor for upper elementary level students. In the classes she has taught she always encouraged her students to strive for excellence in all they do and has trained them to become lifelong learners. She looks forward to continuing that instruction as she joins Home Run Ministries and encourages students to understand and love all of God's creation through Exploring Science.

Patrick Keegan, History Department--

Colonel Patrick Keegan joined the Home Run Ministries faculty in the fall of 2015. He earned his BA in History from the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire and his MA in History from Catholic University of America. He was a co-founder and the first head of school of Eau Claire Christian Academy in Wisconsin and taught high school history at Fort Bend Baptist Academy and middle and high school history as well as served as the History Department Chairperson at Humble Christian School and Northeast Christian Academy. He has been a teacher for over 25 years in the military and in public/private school settings. He has taught AP U. S. History at private high schools and dual credit classes for Kingwood College, now called Lone Star. He served as an officer in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Tommi Lawrence, History Department, Explorations –

Tommi Lawrence joined the Home Run teaching staff in the fall of 2012 teaching in the Intermediate Explorations program, now called simply Explorations. She teaches the popular Kid Nation class as well as having taught other classes for the upper elementary level. In 2015, she expanded into the Academic program teaching both Geography and Economics. She was educated at the University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University, is a certified Montessori Preschool and Elementary Teacher, and is a former missionary in South Africa training youth leaders and teaching adult literacy using the book of Mark as a primer.

Shelby Lipe, Explorations –

Shelby Lipe is so excited to join Home Run Ministries this year, teaching Discover Europe, an Explorations course. She spent her childhood in Ohio and moved to Louisiana while in high school. She grew up in a Christ-centered family and accepted Jesus as her Savior at the age of 17. She started learning French in the eighth grade and loved it so much that she continued all the way through high school and college. She earned her BS from Louisiana State University in Microbiology with minors in Chemistry and French. After marrying Michael, her high school sweetheart, she went back to LSU and completed her Master's Degree in French Literature with a concentration in education. She has taught and tutored students in French at both the high school and college levels for several years and has been blessed to stay home with their three children while they were young. She loves to travel, read, run, take long walks, drink coffee and be with her family.

Stephanie Pyle, Math Department –

Mrs. Pyle graduated from Lubbock Christian University with a BSIS in Secondary Education specializing in English and Mathematics. After spending time teaching 8th and 9th grade English in the public school classroom, and working as both a Sylvan tutor and a private tutor, she now homeschools her two children. She is passionate about children's literacy and student publishing.

Debbie Teel, Math Department—

Mrs. Teel has taught at Home Run Ministries since 2004. She has a BS degree in Math and English Education from Louisiana Tech. She holds a Texas teaching certificate in both fields for grades 8-12. Her teaching experience includes public and private schools as well as homeschooling.

Kimberly Thorsen, Math and Health Departments—

Mrs. Thorsen joined Home Run Ministries in August of 2010. She has a BA degree in General Business from Sam Houston State University at which she played basketball. She acquired a Texas teaching certificate in 2005 and an additional Special Education certificate in 2006. Mrs. Thorsen has taught various grades in public, private Christian school, and homeschool settings. In addition to teaching Algebra, Health, and Physical Education, she has coached basketball and track.

Anne Stanley Trapani, Executive Director—

Mrs. Trapani has worked with Home Run since 1998, serving on its board for seven years as well as founding the Super Friday program and serving as its director until 2005. She has a BA degree in Psychology from Muhlenberg College and is certified in Elementary Education in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Trapani taught elementary school in Wyckoff, New Jersey and in New Caney ISD. In 1991, she was the founding director of Believer's Chapel Christian School in Cicero, New York. Mrs. Trapani has homeschooled her four children since 1993 and enjoys the study of history and literature, especially as it applies to our faith in Christ.

Linda Turner – Sign Language –

Ms. Turner developed an interest in 'deaf culture' as a young child, and majored in education for the hearing impaired. She switched gears in college, at Troy State University, to serve in the social setting instead of classroom, working as an interpreter and paraprofessional in classrooms with deaf and hearing impaired children. She has taught sign language to home school students from age 4 through high school and is proficient in American Sign Language signs in English word order used in church settings and most interpreter relationships. Mrs. Turner has also been involved in home educating her own six children for more than 20 years.

Liz von Dohlen, Science Department—

Mrs. von Dohlen joined Home Run Ministries in the fall of 2007. She has a BA degree in Biology from the University of St. Thomas and has taken extensive graduate courses including training in teaching Advanced Placement courses. She is certified as a teacher through the Association of Christian Schools International. She has extensive teaching experience.

Sheila Watts, Math Department Chair— Mrs. Watts taught public school for nine years before homeschooling her two sons through high school. She received her Bachelor of Science and teaching degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and her Master of Education degree from University of Houston. In addition to teaching in the HRM Academic Program, she has enjoyed teaching math enrichment classes at Super Friday as well as performing administrative duties. Recently, has privately tutored students in math. She is the HRM math department chair. She has a passion for the Lord, teaching, and her family.